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Not sold
A fraternal order style ceremonial sword featuring a straight, double-edged steel blade and an elaborate gilt metal hilt. The blade is decorated on the upper third with gold-toned etching comprising floral scrollwork and a central rectangular panel. This panel contains characters and symbols that are not clearly legible due to surface wear and light reflection. The hilt is cast from yellow metal with a bright gold-toned finish, featuring a rectangular grip decorated in relief with a central oval medallion depicting a classical profile head surrounded by foliate patterns. The disc-shaped pommel carries a raised floral motif, while the straight crossguard displays a central double-headed eagle with outspread wings surmounted by a crown. The shield-shaped langets extending over the blade are cast with a horse’s head design. A length of braided rope is currently tied around the crossguard. The sword is presented without a scabbard.
Condition report:
The sword is in fair condition with visible signs of age and wear. The gold etching on the blade shows significant flaking and wear, particularly towards the edges of the gilded section (photo 1). The polished steel portion of the blade displays areas of surface oxidation and dark spotting (photo 1). The gilt finish on the hilt shows wear on the high points of the casting, revealing a darker base metal beneath, and there is an accumulation of dust and grime in the recessed areas of the decoration (photo 2). The rope tied to the crossguard is a non-original addition. The scabbard is missing.
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